What we know so far after the car ramming 11 had killed, dozens injured

A full festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, to celebrate the Filipino culture ended on Saturday evening in the tragedy when a vehicle plowed in a lot, killed 11 people and injured dozens.

A 30-year-old man was arrested in connection with an attack and charged with several murder cases, of which officials do not believe that it is an act of terrorism.

So far we know the following:

The crash

The attack occurred shortly after 8:14 p.m. in East 41st Avenue and the Fraser Street.

Yoseb Vardeh, who has a snack car at the festival, said the Vancouver Sun that he drove an engine that was shooting moments in front of a frenzied vehicle in the middle of a pedestrian area. He said when he left his snack car, he saw “body everywhere”.

The clothing seller Kris Pangilinan told The Associated Press that he heard what “heard” like an F1 car shortly before the start of a race “followed. He said he could hear the sound of bodies that hit the hood of the SUV when he raced through the street.

“I can only remember that bodies fly higher in the air than the food trucks themselves and land on the floor and scream and scream,” he said.

Adonis Quita, who was with his 9-year-old son, told the AP that the vehicle had met families in line with food.

“He only pushed the gas through the entire block … in his way in his way in his way,” said another witness in the “Today” show by NBC.

A witness said: “Everyone started to run. I hear crying crying. And I got a panic attack.”

In a video published on social media, the suspect's black SUV is caught in the middle of the street, since the first aiders tend to sacrifice.

“Last night, when members of the Filipino community gathered in Vancouver for a celebration of the community and culture in East Vancouver, her collective security and security were stolen when a man drove through a festival in a vehicle,” said Steve Rai, the city's interim police chief on Sunday.

In front of the festival, the police worked with the city to evaluate risks and “found no known threats to the event or for the Filipino community,” said Rai. As a result, he said that it was found that police officers and heavy vehicle barricades on the festival site were not necessary.

Officials said they did not believe that the attack was an act of terrorism.

The mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim, said he was “shocked and deeply sad” by the incident.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected and with the Filipino community of Vancouver in this incredibly difficult time,” he said in a post about X.

The Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney put flowers at a memorial.

“At this incredibly difficult moment we will comfort the grief, take care of each other and combine for common purpose,” he said in a post on X.

The city said that the Canadian flag was flown half the season in all city buildings until it continues to honor the victims.

The number of fatalities

Eleven people aged 5 to 65 were killed and more than two dozen injured, the police said that the number of fatalities could rise.

Rai said that the victims were brought to nine hospitals. Deana Lancaster, spokeswoman for the Vancouver General Hospital, said it received several patients.

The authorities have not publicly named the victims.

What is LAPU-LAPU day?

In 2023, the province of British Columbia declared the Lapu Rapu Day on April 27 to celebrate the legacy of Datu Lapu-Lapu, a fearless indigenous Visayan Chieftain, which is the first to rise against the flood of Spanish colonization, according to the festival's website. He is often regarded as the country's first national hero.

Last year was the first block party.

Headliners for the event were Philippine American artists Apl.de.ap and J. Rey Soul from the Black Eyed Peas group.

Apl.de.ap said that he and J. Rey Soul were ready with the performance and left the stage before the crash.

“It is difficult to describe the shock and the heaviness we feel,” he wrote on Instagram. “Please keep the victims, their families and the organizers in their prayers. They need all the love and strength at the moment. The only thing I noticed – from the audience to the messages that are clever, is the sense of community that surrounds his loving arms around us. We love them all.”

“We came to Vancouver to celebrate our community and be with our community … Destroyed on the ground to learn something about the tragedy that developed,” said J. Rey Soul. “Still shocked. Thoughts and prayers to everyone and all affected families. Send love and prayers to all Filipinos in BC.”

Filipino BC said in an explanation on Instagram: “We still find the words to express the deep heartache, which is caused by this senseless tragedy. We are destroyed for families and victims.”

The suspect

The police identified the driver as a 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo. He was charged with eight murder second degree and the police say that further charges are expected.

The festival goers subjected the man to the killing spree until the police arrived and took him into custody.

The authorities said the suspect was a resident of Vancouver who has a story of mental illnesses, and he is known to the police.

Mayor Sim said civil servants believe that “mental health seems to be the underlying problem here”.